Hello Pontiac Families,

We’re off to a great start to the 2020-2021 school year! While it’s a year like no other, our students, teachers, and families are doing a great job navigating through these uncertain times. We know that MAP testing for our 1st-5th grade students presented challenges, but we thank you for your diligence and flexibility!

Pontiac’s SIC (School Improvement Council) is doing great things! Last year our SIC was recognized as a finalist for the Dick and Tunky Riley SIC award! Our SIC will meet virtually next Thursday, September, 17th from 7:45am-8:30am. Please join us using this Google Meet link: https://meet.google.com/kpv-hape-koa?hs=122&authuser=0

The SIC focuses on helping our school to achieve improvement by focusing on our school goals. We will begin to nominate parent representatives for our SIC at the upcoming meeting. Please join us and become part of this very special team of teachers, community members, families, and school administrators all working together for the benefit of our students.

Please join us in celebrating Kindness! Send your “helping hands” to Ms. Whitney!

SEPT 18 PICTURE DAY IS CANCELLED. We will reschedule Fall Pictures when we return to campus for Phase 2. Refunds will be provided to those families that already purchased a picture package from Strawbridge.

Pontiac Parents,

Did you know that your student has an account at the Richland County Public Library? Their username is their district username and their password is the district password. If your student is new to the district, they will get their usernames and passwords soon.

You can download the Libby app from your app store and connect it to your library account. This is a great way to access e-books and audiobooks from the library to your device, be it a cell phone or tablet.

Jennifer Black

Media Specialist

If your child is going to be in KINDERGARTEN this year, your child is required to have Two (2) Hepatitis A shots prior to entering Kindergarten. Yes, it’s true. These shots will help protect your child from Hepatitis A.

Please visit https://scdhec.gov/index.php/health/vaccinations/childcare-school-vaccine-requirements to read about South Carolina Immunization requirements.

Call your physician today to schedule an appointment. If you don't have a regular physician, you can call DHEC at 1-855-472-3432 to schedule an appointment. Did I mention these shots are required for next year?

If your child has already received Two Hepatitis A shots, please take a copy of their shot record to the school nurse or email the records to her at jlarck@richland2.org.

Your child will be unable to attend school without proof of having received Two (2) Hepatitis A shots.

Students are expected to attend "live" class sessions using Google Meet. Attendance is taken daily, just as it is when we are in the brick and mortar setting. Students who attend "live" class sessions will be coded as present. If a student does not attend a "live" class session, he/she will be coded as absent.

When a student is not able to attend a "live" class session, he/she should watch the recorded lesson and submit the Daily Participation Assignment (DPA). The student's absence will then be changed to present. The student will also be responsible for completing and submitting any make-up work.

Teachers explained this DPA in detail during our Back to School virtual sessions. If you need further explanation about this process, please ask your child's teacher.

If your child does not attend elearning classes on a specific date, please be sure to email an excuse to our attendance secretary, Mrs. Janice Watson at jawatson@richland2.org.

As many of you know, earlier this week the USDA authorized school districts to continue the Seamless Summer option (free student meals), but we needed to wait for SCDE approval before doing so. Yesterday, SCDE began sending SSO extension waiver surveys to school districts (ours has been submitted). SSO reimbursement will be retroactive, so we can begin serving meals at no cost to students/children.

What does this mean?: This means all children (regardless of eligibility) ages 1-18 can receive meals at no cost until December 31st, 2020 (or until federal funding runs out)! Parent/Guardians can pick up meals without children present and will not be asked for student ID's, etc.

Are we currently feeding students during Phase 1?: Yes! We're currently operating from 8 distribution schools and 10+ bus routes on Mondays and Wednesdays (pending any holidays) and have extended the time students/parents can pick up meals from distribution schools (now from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm). On Mondays, students receive meals for Mon/Tues, and on Wednesdays, students receive meals for W/T/F.

Where can I stay up to date with Richland 2 foodservice information and updates?: We would love for you and your school Facebook pages to follow us at our Richland 2 nutrition page.

We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to serve!

Tony

It’s very important that families who qualify for free and reduced price meals apply for this status as soon as possible. To find out more about the process please click here to read the parent letter that answers a lot of questions including who qualifies for free or reduced-price meals. The quickest and easiest way to submit an application for free or reduced-price meals is to use the online application. Click the link here to start the application.

As a reminder, families have to apply every year. That means students who attended schools in Richland Two in 2019-2020 and received free/reduced price meals MUST complete a new application for eligibility of extended benefits each school year. If you do not reapply, all meal prices will automatically change to full price.

If you do not have access to the online application form, you can submit a paper form. To turn in a paper application, you may

• FAX your completed application to 803-419-5839 OR
• RETURN your completed application to your child's school cafe manager OR
• MAIL your application to Richland School District Two Food & Nutrition Services, 124 Risdon Way, Columbia, SC 29223.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media platforms for up to date information as well as a glimpse into our school! We are so excited to welcome your family to our school family!

Website: https://www.richland2.org/pe/
Location: 500 Spears Creek Church Road, Elgin, SC, USA
Phone: 803 699-2700
Facebook: facebook.com/Pontiac
Twitter: @Pontiac

September 24 - Virtual Open House 5:30 - 7:00

September 25 - College Colors Day

September 28 - Military Monday